Kay Granger, First Republican Woman from Texas in Congress, Dies at 83

WASHINGTON — Kay Granger, the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Texas, died Sunday at 83. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced her death.

Granger chaired the House Appropriations Committee, giving her direct control over how Congress allocated discretionary federal spending across every agency and department. Few positions on Capitol Hill carry more leverage.

She served 28 years in Congress, arriving in 1997 after Democrat Pete Geren retired — a shift that signaled the Republican Party's tightening grip on Texas congressional seats that had long been Democratic territory.

Before Washington, Granger made history as Fort Worth's first female mayor. Her career in public service began at the local level and extended to national politics over three decades.

Granger's rise tracked the broader surge of Republican power in Texas during the late 20th century. She helped plant the party's flag in districts that had once been reliably Democratic.

Her passing marks the end of a long run of Texas influence in the House — and closes the career of one of the chamber's most powerful committee chairs.

WASHINGTON — Kay Granger, the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Texas, died Sunday at 83. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced her death.

Before Washington, Granger made history as Fort Worth's first female mayor. Her career in public service began at the local level and extended to national politics over three decades.

Granger's rise tracked the broader surge of Republican power in Texas during the late 20th century. She helped plant the party's flag in districts that had once been reliably Democratic.

Her passing marks the end of a long run of Texas influence in the House — and closes the career of one of the chamber's most powerful committee chairs.